How to choose the best veterinary practice

Most people in the UK can access multiple different vets, which can make choosing a practice feel overwhelming. 

You might also have heard that two government bodies are in the process of implementing significant changes to the market to improve things for consumers – the Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) and the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (DEFRA). 

While these changes come into effect, we cannot recommend any practices or chains of practices. This is because the market is changing so quickly.  

However, there are still several things you can look for while choosing a vet – we explain more in this guide. 

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What’s happening in the veterinary market?

In March 2026, the CMA released a report on the UK veterinary market sector. It reported very high-quality care across the market, but found issues around rising treatment costs, price transparency and corporate dominance. 

The CMA recommended a series of changes based on these findings, including mandatory online price lists and itemised billing. Veterinary practices will be required to implement these changes between December 2026 and September 2027. 

Since the publication of this report, DEFRA has also announced its intention to make sweeping changes across the industry, including to the Veterinary Services Act.

These changes include regulation of veterinary titles and improvements to compliance procedures. 

Taken together, these changes aim to make the market more affordable and better regulated – ultimately leading to a better experience for consumers and better care for pets. 

We are monitoring these changes, and plan to update our content as they come into effect. 

Standard of care at the vets

It is important to highlight that both the CMA and DEFRA have reported a high standard of care across the board.

Martin Coleman, Chair of the CMA inquiry wrote: ‘The standard of veterinary care in the UK is generally high… from everything we’ve seen, [vets] work incredibly hard, act ethically and care about animal welfare.’ 

Similarly, in the forward to the DEFRA white paper, Baroness Hayman of Ullock, Minister for Animal Welfare and Biosecurity wrote: ‘I have seen first‑hand the professionalism, skill, and commitment of those working across the veterinary field… veterinary professionals play an indispensable role in our society.’

While it can be upsetting to hear that the government has found evidence of detriment to consumers in the veterinary industry, it is important to remember that this detriment relates chiefly to price inflation, competition and redress when things go wrong. 

Although it's important to be mindful when choosing a vet, most practices will offer a good standard of care for your pet. 

How to find the best vet for you

Given that most vets provide a high standard of care, key factors to consider include location, accreditation and the services they provide. 

We recommend following these steps:

1. Use the RCVS website to find accredited vets near you

The RCVS (Royal College of Veterinary Surgeons) is the regulatory and standard-setting body in the UK. 

All vets in the UK must be registered with the RCVS in order to practice. 

However, vet practices do not have to register with the RCVS in order to open. If they do register, it means they've had an RCVS assessment and follow the Practice Standards Scheme (PSS) – a voluntary accreditation scheme for vet surgeries.

Most vet surgeries are RCVS-accredited. 

You can use your postcode to search for RCVS-accredited practices or vet surgeons near you using the 'Find a Vet' tool on its website. 

2. Check the treatments offered

Like doctors, different vets specialise in different areas of treatment. So if you have a pet with a particular health issue, you could search for a vet who specialises in that area.

Different practices also offer a different level of emergency and out-of-hours coverage. 

If your pet is particularly accident-prone, we recommend looking for a surgery with a comprehensive emergency service.

3. Consider the pricing plans

Some vets offer plans that let you pay a yearly or monthly amount to receive a range of routine services, such as vaccinations and deworming. 

If you regularly use these services, it could help you save money in the long-term. 

Some vets also offer payment plans, so that you can pay back a certain treatment over a set period of time rather than as a lump sum. 

They might offer this service through the practice or a third-party provider, like Klarna. If you choose a payment plan, keep in mind that missing a repayment can negatively affect your credit score. 

4. Read the online reviews

Once you have a shortlist of potential vets, check online reviews for the practice. You might also be able to ask your friends, family, and neighbors for their advice.

Chain and independent vets in the UK

According to the CMA, more than 60% of vet practices in the UK belong to a chain. A vet practice belongs to a chain if it's part of a large group of vet practices owned by the same people or by a business.

There are six major chains operating in the UK: CVS Group, Linnaeus, IVC-Evidensia, Pets at Home, Medivet and VetPartners.

The CMA found that many chain vets have higher average prices than independent practices, and that: ‘Satisfaction with cost, quality of service, and quality of care is lower than at independent practices.’

However, the CMA also reported that it's not always easy to tell whether a vet is part of a chain from its website or by visiting the surgery. The CMA has mandated that vets belonging to a chain need to make this clear by December 2026. 

Until then, if you want to know if your vet belongs to a chain, you may need to ask your vet or someone who works at the practice for more information. 

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How much is a vet consultation?

In January 2026, the pet insurance company Many Pets surveyed 80 vets across the UK on how much they charge for a consultation. The average cost was £61.99. 

However, the price was significantly higher for out-of-hours or emergency consultations. 

In addition, if your pet requires treatment during the consultation, it will end up costing more.

Have vet bills increased? 

The short answer is yes.

The CMA has reported that, between January 2016 and December 2023, average prices at veterinary businesses across the sector grew by 63%, compared to a 32% increase in general inflation. 

Several factors have contributed to this price increase. We hope that the changes implemented by the CMA and DEFRA will help to stabilise prices in this area. 

How to save on vet bills and medications

There are some steps you can take to keep your bills as low as possible. 

• Buy prescriptions elsewhere – ask for a copy of your prescription and shop around different pet pharmacies, such as Boots or Lloyds.
• Ask for generic rather than named-brand medications – when your vet writes a prescription, check that it's for a generic medication, which tends to be cheaper.
• Consider seeing a veterinary nurse – if you need advice on managing long-term conditions, weight management, or just need help monitoring your pet, a consultation with a nurse might be suitable and cheaper.
• Focus on prevention – ensuring that your pet has regular check-ups, deworming, up-to-date vaccinations and proper dental care can do a lot to prevent serious issues from developing
• Look for financial aid – Blue Cross, People's Dispensary for Sick Animals (PDSA) and The RSPCA all offer free or low-cost vet care or assistance with vet bills to eligible people. Check each organisation's website for details.

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